Synonyms of tearing

tearing 1 of 2

adjective

as in cutting

Related Words

• cutting
• penetrating
• biting
• stinging
• shooting
• piercing
• stabbing
• tingling
• intense
• smarting
• extreme
• violent
• sharp
• acute
• vehement
• exquisite
• wrenching
• fierce
• torturing
• tormenting
• agonizing
• racking
• harrowing
• torturous
• excruciating
• raging

tearing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tear

1

as in ripping

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it

angrily tore the letter to shreds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ripping
• shredding
• rending
• splitting
• breaking
• riving
• tattering
• cutting
• ribboning
• cleaving
• rupturing
• slashing
• gashing
• lacerating
• incising
• dissecting
• dismembering
• mangling
• butchering
• hacking

2

as in yanking

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

tore the book from his hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ripping
• yanking
• grabbing
• pulling
• wrenching
• snatching
• prying
• wresting
• cutting (off)
• extracting
• seizing
• severing
• snapping (up)
• forcing
• uprooting
• amputating
• lopping (off)
• jerking
• nipping
• nabbing
• dissevering
• rooting (out)
• prizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattaching

3

as in hurrying

to proceed or move quickly

she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurrying
• speeding
• rushing
• scurrying
• flying
• zipping
• traveling
• racing
• driving
• trotting
• chasing
• jumping
• blowing
• ripping
• buzzing
• running
• scooting
• darting
• blasting
• stepping
• dashing
• scuttling
• ramming
• zooming
• bolting
• whirling
• blazing
• barreling
• shooting
• hurling
• bowling
• hurtling
• rustling
• hustling
• jogging
• hastening
• careering
• bundling
• humping
• nipping
• careening
• rocketing
• coursing
• pelting
• breezing
• whisking
• cracking (on)
• belting
• bustling
• jetting
• haring
• motoring
• galloping
• beating it
• bombing
• hying
• cannonballing
• highballing
• flitting
• stepping on it
• scampering
• getting a move on
• hotfooting (it)
• making tracks
• streaking
• shaking a leg
• scuffling
• accelerating
• sprinting
• scudding
• whizzing
• stampeding
• overtaking
• quickening
• beetling
• outrunning
• outstripping
• outpacing
• stepping out
• catching up
• arrowing
• fast-forwarding
• beelining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creeping
• crawling
• poking
• dragging
• lingering
• hanging (around or out)
• poking
• lagging
• strolling
• shuffling
• loitering
• dawdling
• sauntering
• ambling
• dallying
• plodding
• lumbering
• slowing (down or up)
• decelerating
• tarrying
• dillydallying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tearing

Adjective

By acting as a biomechanical bridge, soft enough for muscle, strong enough for rigid parts, the tendons eliminate the tearing and detachment problems that have plagued previous designs. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025

Verb

Mariano Rivera was back on the field at the Yankees’ annual Old-Timer’s Day on Saturday after tearing an Achilles tendon playing the outfield at the event last year. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Lockett appeared in the first four games of the season for the Knights, registering 13 tackles, including 3 for loss with a sack and two passes defended before tearing a pectoral muscle that prematurely ended his season. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

One is a sticky yellow mucus similar to that produced by certain mollusks that is highly resistant to breakage or tearing. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Its blazing 180-hertz refresh rate and 1ms response time ensure buttery-smooth gameplay when unwinding after lectures, while AMD FreeSync prevents screen tearing. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

In a neat little twist, the Giants also have Parks Harber tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Damian Lillard also suffered a blood clot in his right calf last year and missed roughly a month before tearing his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Dallas Cowboys tight end Princeton Fant will miss the season after tearing his ACL, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026

Nabers, 23, suffered the injury last September, tearing his ACL and requiring a full meniscus repair. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026